26 July 2023

Full Council 25 July 2023

So the second full council at Teignbridge District Council followed by some photo opps at Penn Inn, remember that place?
Here are some brief notes on the full council meeting that preceded the photos:
What was agreed on:
- SDA Cllrs have been calling for the code of conduct to be changed since the monitoring officer changed it without Cllr input a few years ago. Today it was recognised that the declaration of interests element was in conflict with the law. All fine, other than the council could not find it within itself to note that it had in effect smeared Cllr Daws by suggesting he was breaking the law, speaking at various meetings in the past, which he clearly wasn’t. Contrition is not a quality this council seems to know well. So no apology, or email reply to the solicitor who pointed it out to the council. But a correction nonetheless.

- All parties agreed that the policy to close train ticket offices was not a good one. Even the Tories were against the implementation of their own national policies, (a trend from Uxbridge perhaps). So, the council is expressing its dissatisfaction on that policy to the powers that be.
What was debated:

- The Lib Dems wanted to take back delegated authority from the council officers on the Future High Street Fund grant implementation. After all, the plan was implemented in 2019, after being defined by the previous Tory administration, and things might have changed, and the Cllrs might want to have a say. The Tory leader was adamant that it should plough on as it. Why change a decision, even if circumstances have changed and it appears it might not be the best route?! So the Tories were against. SDA Cllr MacGregor put forward some concerns on Cllrs project management skills. Cllr Daws perhaps surprised the Lib Dems by suggesting agreed with them but he would go further and take back delegated authority on Queen Street and create an alternative plan that chimed with the retailers. The motion passed. The Councillors, well, the Lib Dems, are back at the wheel on the FHSF.

- Teignmouth Leisure Centre decarbonisation is one of those projects that came to council and needed to be agreed within five minutes otherwise the funds would evaporate. There were some good points made by Cllr Hall and Cllr Paul Parker on different business models for leisure centres. Private enterprise or community run initiatives often have better outcomes than Council run operations. It was also suggested by many in the debate that not enough detail was on the table. But the Lib Dem’s have the majority. It passed.

- The external committees TDC Cllrs sit on now have a smattering of non Lib Dem representation. That said, after 30 years in the force, former Chief Inspector Jane Taylor is somehow not the most qualified person in the room for the Police and Crime Commission (she is) and Cllr MacGregor somehow can’t continue on the NHS committee, despite holding that role in the last term effectively as an independent.

What was turned down:
- TDC doesn’t want to give its Cllrs refreshments at council meetings. Even the basic human right of water is not on offer.
The meeting ended after five thirsty hours. The upside was this was in time for some photos with street art that is suspiciously in our party colours. Down at Penn Inn. Lest we remember the Park that was once there for the benefit of the residents. But at least we have some street art now…